Periodically actuated aerosol dispenser



M y 1965 G. L. BISCHOFF ETAL PERIODICALLY ACTUATED AEROSOL DISPENSERFiled Aug. 9, 1963 2 SheetsShee't l INVENTORS ATTORNEY y 1965 G. L.BISCHOFF ETAL 3,182,857

PERIODICALLY ACTUATED AEROSOL DISPENSER Filed Aug. 9, 1963 2Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,182,857 PERIODICALLY ACTUATEDAEROSOL DISPENSER Garth L. Bischotf, 3140 Bermuda Drive, Costa Mesa,

Calif., and Douglas I. Hoiberg, 619 S. Woods, Fullerton, Calif.

Filed Aug. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 301,049 12 Claims. (Cl. 22270) Thisinvention relates to an aerosol dispenser and has as its primary objectthe provision of a powered mechanism whereby a liquid confined in acontainer under pressure may be discharged in vapor phase at regular orperiodic intervals, which is particularly applicable for use inautomatically dispensing sprays of disinfectants, deodorizers,insecticides, and the like, in the treatment of expansive infested orcontaminated areas or atmospheric space.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the abovecharacter embodying cam actuated means whereby intermittent discharge ofspray or vapors may be effected at predetermined intervals, wherein thevolume of liquid dispensed at each discharge may be varied from aminimum to a maximum by an adjustment whereby the duration of thedischarge may be varied without variation in the dispensing moment.

The dispensing mechanism involving the invention is designed to beemployed in actuating the reciprocal discharge valve of a conventionalaerosol container for which purpose the mechanism embodies a verticallymoveable arm extending horizonally over the valve stem which whendropped will act under the weight and momentum thereof to depress thevalve to an open position in opposition to a spring; the arm being ofsuch weight, or weighted, as to impact the valve stem endwise with suchforce as. to depress the latter in opposition to a valve closing springto open the valve, yet when the impacting force is expended, the load ofthe arm will be overcome by the spring thereby allowing the spring toclose the valve. Normally this action could occur within severalseconds. A feature of the invention and another object thereof is theprovision of regulating means for releasably holding the arm in itsvalve opening position for a predetermined length of time, as from asecond or less to many minutes, within. the operating capacity of themachine.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of aconstruction whereby the machine may be conditioned to compensate forvariations in the heights of aerosol containers or lengths of valvestems thereof, whereby the extent of opening of the valve and the momentof closing thereof may be regulated to a fine degree of accuracyirrespective of minor variations in the recited dimensions.

A further object is to provide an aerosol dispenser embodying the statedcharacteristics which is simple and economical in construction, highlyefficient in operation, and which requires no attention while inservice.

With theforegoing objects in view, together with such other objects andadvantages as may subsequently appear herein, the invention residesinthe parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of partshereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the dispenser as seen in front elevation with theparts in an intermediate position wherein the spray dispensing valve isclosed, and the valve actuating arm about to be elevated:

FIG. 2 is a side view of the dispenser as shown in FIG. 1:

FIG. 3 is a plan view; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of the dispenserillustrating the mode of operation thereof,

and showing the discharge valve of the aerosol container disposed in itsopen position in opposition to the urge of a spring embodied in thecontainer, the view depicting the valve actuation arm in its lowermostvalve opening position in full lines, in the intermediate position shownin FIG. 1 in dot-and-dash lines, and in its fully elevated position inbroken lines.

Referring to the drawings more specifically A indicates a back panelconstituting a support for an aerosol container and for the mechanism ofthe invention. The panel A is designed to be disposed in an uprightposition. Provided on the lower portion of the panel is a pair of spacedparallel brackets BB between the lower margins of which extends a ledge5 projecting from the lower end of the panel A said ledge constituting abase for supporting a cylindrical aerosol container C. Spaced above thebrackets B-B is a U-shaped bracket D having side members 6 and 6 whichbracket D receives and conforms to the rear half of the upper portion ofthe container C with the side members 6-6' extending astride thecontainer. As a means for stabilizing the container C in its seatedposition on the base 5 and between the brackets B-B and bracket D, astrap 7, here shown as comprising a length of wire, is extended over andaround the outer upper portion of the container C and has its endsseated in slots 8-8 in the outer end portions of the bracket sidemembers 6-6' and hooked in engagement therewith as particularly shown inFIGS. 1 and 2.

The container C has housed therein a concentrated liquid aerosolinsecticide, under pressure, and is provided at its upper end with aspray nozzle E and with a discharge control valve 9 normally closedunder the urge of a thrust coiled spring 10' as particularly shown inFIG. 4. The spray nozzle E is here shown as embodied in a head 11 havinga spray orifice 12, which head is mounted on a tubular stem 13 slidablymounted in and supported by a sleeve 14 fixed on the upper end wall 15of the container C; the tubular stem 13 con necting with the valve 9which comprises a plunger reciprocally mounted in a tube 16 projectingdownwardly from the wall 15. The tube 16 contains the spring 10 whichbears between the lower end of the plunger valve 9 and pin 17 extendingdiametrically of the tube 16. The upper end of the valve 9 is conical,as indicated at a, for abutting a conformable valve seat b under thethrust of the spring 10. When thus seated the plunger valve 9 closes aport 0 in the tube 16 forming a communication between the interior ofthe container C and the interior of the tube 16 adjacent the valve seatb when the plunger valve 9 is in its depressed open position, as shownin FIG. 4.

The tubular stem 13 has a port .d which opens to the port 0 when the,valve 9 is in its depressed open position. A cavity e in the head 11aifords a communication between the upper end of the stem 13 and thedischarge orifice 12. The port c, tube 16, port d, tubular stem 13, andcavity e constitute collectively a passage way leading from the interiorof the container to the spray orifice 12, which passage-way iscontrolled by the plunger valve 9 in the usual manner. Depression of thehead 11 advances the plunger valve 9 in opposition to the spring 10thereby permitting the flow of aerosol in its vapor phase, from thecontainer C through the orifice 12. The head 11. constitutes the usualpush-button for opening the valve 9.

In carrying out the invention means are provided for automaticallydepressing and releasing the. head 11 at periodic intervals which meansis here shown as embodying a horizontally extending arm 20 mounted forvertical swinging movement on a pivot pin 21 carried on a boss 21 on thepanel A; the arm 20 extending in spaced parallel relation to the panel Awith its pivoted inner end portion overlying the head 11. The inner endof the arm 20 is provided with a resilient tongue 22 connected to thearm 20 by a return bend 23 which extends forwardly of the underside ofthe arm in abutting relation thereto. The outer free end portion of thetongue 22 is interposed between the arm 20 and head 11 and is normallyseated on the upper end of the head under the thrust of the arm 20. Ascrew 24 is threaded vertically through the arm 29 for longitudinaladjustment which screw abuts the upper side of the tongue 22 and wherebyspaced relation of the arm 20 and tongue 22 may be adjusted as occasionmay require.

' The outer free end of the arm 20 is provided with a weight 25 whichsupplements the load of the arm 20 to normally maintain the arm 20 in alowered position, but the primary function of which is to swing the arm20 downwardly under momentum from an elevated position and as will belater described.

The heaviness of the weight 25 is proportioned relative to the thrust ofthe spring such that the latter will act to maintain the plunger valve 9closed in opposition to the load normally imposed on the head 11 by thearm and weight 25. In other words the thrust of the weight coupled withthe leverage action of the arm 20 is insufficient to normally depressthe push-button or head 11 in opposition to the spring 10.

Means are provided for elevating the weighted arm 20 and allowing it todrop at periodic intervals whereby such dropping of the arm will directsuch forceful impact on the head 11 as to depress and open the plungervalve 9 in opposition to the spring 10 and thereby effect momentaryopening of the valve. This means is here shown as embodying a wiper cam26 comprising an arcuate finger fixed on and extending radially of thedriven shaft 27 of a conventional electrically actuated motor 28 whicheffects constant rotation of the shaft 27 preferably at or about onerevolution per quarter hour. The motor 28 being a well known product nowon the market and in common use in actuating various mechanical devices,the mechanism thereof need not be shown nor described. The motor 28 isset in operation by connecting the terminals of a pair of conductorsleading therefrom (not shown) with a source of electrical current supplyin a usual manner.

The cam finger 26 has an arcuate wiping or working surface f leadingoutwardly from the base g thereof to its tip h;the shaft 27 beingarranged adjacent the outer end of the arm 20 so that on rotationthereof, when the arm 20 is disposed in its normal position, the base gof the cam finger will advance against the underside of the arm 20adjacent the end margin j thereof, so that as the cam finger advancesupwardly the working surface f thereof will ele. vate the arm 20 untilthe tip h of the finger passes from under the end margin j of the armthereby releasing the arm and allowing it to fall, as will be more fullydescribed hereinafter.

The arm 20 is provided with an end extension 29 in the form of a platewhich projects downwardly from the outer side margin of the arm and alsoextends forwardly of the end j thereof. The weight 25, comprising ametallic disc, is secured to the front face of the plate 29 by a rivet30. The plate extension 29 is provided with an inturned flange 31 on itslower end and mounted on the under side of the flange 31 and projectingdownwardly therefrom is a conventional suction cup 32 arranged to bebrought into contact with the fiat upper surface k of a fixed plate 33projecting horizontally from the panel A. The suction cup 32 and plate33 constitute a means whereby the arm 20 on being dropped from itselevated position may be restrained and held in its lowermost positionfor an interval of time.

Means are provided for determining the duration of the time interval andwhereby such interval may be varied minutely within limits according tothe timing of the movement of the cam 26. This means embodies a minuteair inlet orifice 34 in the plate 33 leading from a passage 35 openingto atmosphere. The inlet orifice 34 opens through the top surface k ofthe plate 33 at a point within the area bounded by the margin of thesuction cup 32 when the latter is seated on the plate 33. The passage 35is formed in a rib 36 extending longitudinally of the under side of theplate 33. A screw 37 is threaded in the rib 36 with its inner endportion extending into the passage 35 and with its inner end presentedto the orifice 34, which screw serves as a means of restricting theorifice 34 to thereby regulate the rate of air intake therethrough andwhereby the duration or period of time during which the discharge valveis held open during each operation thereof may be varied and regulatedaccording to requirements, as will hereinafter be described.

When the parts are in their normal position the plunger valve 9 will beclosed by the spring 10 and the arm 20 will be slightly elevatedrelative to its lowermost position with the suction cup 32 spaced fromthe plate 33 as indicated by the dot and dash lines in FIG. 4, whichintermediate positioning of the arm 20 occurs during the period when thecam 26 is out of engagement with the arm 20 which period is while thecam finger is advancing outwardly and downwardly after the tip itthereof passes from beneath the outer end j of arm 29 and until theinner end or base g of the working face 1 of the finger 2-6 comes intocontact with the under side of the outer end of the arm 20.

In the container construction here shown the nozzle E is embodied in thehead 11 which is turnable circumferentially by reason of the valve stem13 being cylindrical and revolubly supported in the sleeve 14 and forrectilineal movement.

As a means for preventing turning of the nozzle E from a position inwhich the discharge orifice 12 is presented outwardly from the panel A,the head 11 is provided on the rear side thereof with a stem 38 whichprojects upwardly between the panel A and arm 20 adjacent the rearmargin of the arm 20 which stem has a broad fiat outer face disposedcontiguous the arm. The arm 20 thus serves as an abutment for the stem38 and co-acts therewith to hold the nozzle E against turning.

In the operation of the invention, the container C, loaded with theaerosol content, is mounted on the back panel A by seating it on theledge 5 with its lower portion disposed between the brackets B-B' andwith its upper portion seated between the side members 6-6 of thebracket D and held in place by the strap 7, the arm 20 beingsufficiently elevated to permit positioning of the nozzle E beneath thetongue 22. The valve 9 will then be in its normal closed position withthe head 11 in its uppermost position.

When it is desired to dispense aerosol from the container, the motor 28is placed in operation by connecting it in an electric circuit in theusual manner whereby the motor is driven at a speed such as to directlydrive the shaft 27 and cam 26 constantly at a rate of one revolution infifteen minutes or thereabouts. On each revolution of the shaft 27 andcam 26 the base or heel g of the cam finger advances on its up-strokeinto engagement with the outer end of the arm 20 which is then in itsnormal intermediate position indicated in dot and dash lines in FIG. 4wherein the tongue 22 is seated on the nozzle E or head 11, thendisposed in their uppermost positions under the urge of the spring 10.On continued upward movement of the cam-finger 26 the working face 7thereof in wiping against the underside of the outer end portion of thearm 20 acts to swing the arm upwardly to an elevated position determinedby the tip h of the finger 26 passing from beneath the outer end j ofthe arm 20 as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 4. The cam will thenhave traveled approximately a half revolution.

The finger 26 on passing out of engagement with the outer end of the arm20 releases the arm so that it will then freely fall or gravitatedownwardly .clear of the cam to its lowermost position shown in fulllines in FIG. 4. In approaching this position the tongue 22 impacts thehead 11 and under the weight and momentum of the arm 20 forces the pushbutton head 11 downwardly to thereby open the plunger valve 11 inopposition to the spring to permit discharge of aerosol from thecontainer through the recited passage-way and the nozzle orifice 12.

At the same time, as the arm approaches its lowermost position thesuction cup 32 impacts the plate 33 and in so'doing expels air fromtherebeneath to create a suction whereby the cup is caused to grip theplate 33, in a usual manner so as to hold the arm 20 against rebound anddelay its initial upward movement; the suction cup thus holding the arm20 in its depressed position in opposition to the spring 10, therebydelaying closing of the valve 9 and permitting continued discharge ofaerosol from the container. The head 11 and spring 10 together with thesuction cup 32 co-act to afford a resilient abutment for the arm 20 tocushion the impact of the falling arm at the end of its down strokewhere the arm is brought to rest.

The period of time during which the valve is thus held open enduresuntil the suction of the cup 32 is broken which is determined by therate of flow of air into the cup through the inlet aperture 34 which inturn is governed by regulation of the capacity of the aperture byadjustment of the screw 37. The period during which the aerosol is thusdischarged may be accurately varied from a fraction of a second to aboutseven and a half minutes according to the speed of rotation of the cam26.

It will be observed that the above recited operation occurs during theinterval of time required for the cam 26 to advance on its down orneutral stroke which at the rate herein recited, as an example, is aboutseven and a half minutes. On release of the suction cup 32, the arm 20will be subjected to the action of the spring 10 which as before stated,is tensioned to close the valve 9 in opposition to the load of the armimposed on the head 11, and accordingly will lift the arm a shortdistance on closing of the valve Where the arm will be positioned inreadiness for reengagement by the cam 26 on its succeeding upstroke.

From the foregoing it will be seen that'discharge of aerosol from thecontainer A will be commenced at regular spaced intervals according tothe speed of rotation of the shaft 27 and cam 26, since the controlvalve is opened on each revolution of the cam by the falling arm 20 andthat the period of each discharge will endure to and terminate at anyselected period after commencement of the moment of discharge accordingto when the actuating arm is free to be elevated under the thrust of thespring 10 which condition is controlled by adjustment of the regulatingscrew 37.

We claim:

1. In a mechanism for periodically dispensing aerosol from a containerhaving a spray nozzle and a passageway leading to said nozzle fittedwith a valve controlling said passage-way, and embodying a springnormally closing said valve, and including a stem connected to saidvalve having a head disposed above said container adapted to be actuatedto open said valve; the combination comprising a horizontally extendingvertically movable arm overlying said head, a powered rotary means forperiodically engaging and elevating said arm to a position in spacedrelation to said head, said means being adapted to release said arm whenin its elevated position, said arm being operable on being released tofall and impact said head with suificient force to actuate said head andthereby momentarily open said valve in opposition to said spring; saidspring being tensioned to close said valve in opposition to the weightof said arm, and said spring and head acting as a resilient abutment forthe arm on the down stroke thereof.

2. The mechanism called for in claim 1 together with means for holdingsaid arm in its lowermost position against movement under the urge ofsaid spring for a predetermined period of time to thereby hold saidvalve open for such period.

3. The mechanism called for in claim 1 together with means for holdingsaid arm in its lowermost position against movement under the urge ofsaid spring for a predetermined period of time to thereby hold saidvalve open for such period, said holding means comprising a suction cupon said arm, a fixed plate apart from said arm against which said cupimpacts and is engaged when said arm falls to its lowermost position,and adjustable means for releasing said cup atvarious predeterminedintervals, said suction cup co-operating with said spring and head incushioning impact of the falling .arm.

4. In a mechanism for automatically discharging aerosol periodicallyfrom a container equipped with a spray nozzle and having a normallyclosed spring pressed discharge valve controlling delivery of aerosol tosaid nozzle; said valve being mounted on a rectilineally reciprocal stemfitted with a head; the combination comprising a horizontally extendingpivotally supported arm overlying said head, a weight on said armnormally disposing the arm in a position wherein a portion of said armis seated on said head and said arm held in a partially elevatedposition thereby when said valve is closed, a rotary wiper camengageable with said arm, and powered means for continuously rotatingsaid cam at a constant speed, said cam having an arcuate working surfacefor lifting said arm from its partly elevated position to a fullyelevated position during one-half of each revolution of the cam; saidarm when in its fully elevated position being spaced from said valvehead, said cam being contoured to disengage said arm when the latter hasbeen lifted to its fully elevated position by said cam; said arm on thusbeing disengaged from said cam gravitating to its lowermost position soas to impact said head to depress the latter and thereby momentarilyopen said valve.

5. In an attachment for aerosol containers having a discharge outlet, avalve controlling said outlet, and a spring normally closing said valve,said valve embodying a head actuatable to open said valve; thecombination comprising a horizontally extending arm having an inner endportion overlying said head, said arm being pivoted at its inner endportion to swing vertically, said arm having a free outer end, a weighton said outer end normally disposing the arm in a lowered positionwherein the inner end portion of said arm seats on said head, saidspring being tensioned to oppose actuation of said head by the normalload of said weighted arm, a rotary wiper cam engageable with the outerend of said arm, an electric motor for continuously rotating said cam ata constant speed, said cam having an arcuate working surface engageablewith said arm for lifting said arm from a lowered to a fully elevatedposition during one-half of each revolution of said cam, said arm whenin its fully elevated position being spaced from said valve head; saidwiper cam having an outer end moveable to release said arm when thelatter has been lifted to its fully elevated position by said cam; saidarm on thus being released by said cam gravitating to its lower mostposition free of said cam thereby impacting and depressing said valvehead so as to momentarily open said valve in opposition to said spring.

6. In a device for periodically actuating the normally closed valve ofan aerosol dispenser, the combination comprising an electric motorhaving a shaft rotatable thereby at a constant speed, a verticallydisposed wiper cam on said shaft embodying a radial finger having anarcuate working surface and having an outer end; a horizontallyextending vertically moveable arm having a free outer end arranged inthe upward path of travel of the said radial finger and free of said camon downward movement of said finger whereby said arm is elevated duringonehalf of each revolution of said cam and is released from the outerend of said finger when in its elevated position whereby said arm willfreely fall from its elevated position independent of said cam to alowermost position, means whereby movement of said arm to its lowermostposition will act to open said valve, and spring means for partiallyelevating said arm from its lowermost position preliminary to engagementthereof by said cam to permit closing of said valve.

7. The structure called for in claim 6, together with releasable meanson said arm in part temporarily holding said arm in its lowermostposition in opposition to said spring means.

8. The structure called for in claim 6 together with a suction cupcarried on said arm, and a fixed plate independent of said arm againstwhich said cup seats when said arm moves to its lowermost position tothereby temporarily hold said arm in such position in opposition to saidspring means.

9. The structure called for in claim 6 together with a suction cupcarried on said arm, a fixed plate independent of said arm against whichsaid cup seats when said arm moves to its lowermost position to therebytemporarily hold said arm in such position in opposition to said springmeans, and adjustable means for terminating the action of said suctioncup at various predetermined intervals.

10. The structure called for in claim 6 together with a suction cupcarried on said arm, a fixed plate independent of said arm against whichsaid cup seats when said arm moves to its lowermost position to therebytemporarily hold said arm in such position in opposition to said springmeans, said plate having an air inlet in the area thereof bounded bysaid suction cup when said cup is seated on said plate.

11. The structure called for in claim 6 together with a suction cupcarried on said arm, a fixed plate independent of said arm against whichsaid cup seats when said arm Cir moves to its lowermost position tothereby temporarily hold said arm in such position in opposition to saidspring means, said plate having an air inlet in the area thereof boundedby said suction cup when said cup is seated on said plate, and means forregulating the capacity of said air inlet.

12. In an apparatus for periodically dispensing aerosol from a sealedcontainer having an upper end equipped with a spray nozzle and having adischarge passage leading from the interior of said container to saidnozzle, a valve in said passage for controlling the delivery of aerosoltherethrough, a spring normally holding said valve in its closedposition, and a headed stem on said valve; the combination comprising aweight loaded arm overlying said headed stem normally disposed in aninitial partly elevated position under the urge of said spring, and cammeans for periodically lifting and releasing said arm to cause said armto drop and impact said headed stem and thereby momentarily open saidvalve at regular intervals.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,137,517 4/15Nelson -a 251-76 X 2,904,223 9/59 Ryan 222-182 X 2,980,296 4/61Edelstein 222-70 2,991,912 7/61 Thomas 239-70 X 3,018,056 1/62Montgomery 239-70 3,107,821 10/63 Lambert 222-182 X LOUIS I. DEMBO,Primary Examiner.

12. IN AN APPARATUS FOR PERIODICALLY DISPENSING AEROSOL FROM A SEALEDCONTAINER HAVING AN UPPER END EQUIPPED WITH A SPRAY NOZZLE AND HAVING ADISCHARGE PASSAGE LEADING FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER TO SAIDNOZZLE, A VALVE IN SAID PASSAGE FOR CONTROLLING THE DELIVERY OF AEROSOLTHERETHROUGH, A SPRING NORMALLY HOLDING SAID VALVE; THE ITS CLOSEDPOSITION, AND A HEADED STEM ON SAID VALVE; THE COMBINATION COMPRISING AWEIGHT LOADED ARM OVERLYING SAID HEADED STEM NORMALLY DISPOSED IN ANINITIAL PARTLY ELEVATED POSITION UNDER THE URGE OF SAID SPRING, AND CAMMEANS FOR PERIODICALLY LIFTING AND RELEASING SAID ARM TO CAUSE SAID ARMTO DROP AND IMPACT SAID HEADED STEM AND THEREBY MOMENTARILY OPEN SAIDVALVE AT REGULAR INTERVALS.